Third to dayid b



UNITED STATES iPATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD VILSON FARNIAIAM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- THIRD TO DAVID B. MORISON, OF SAME PLACE.

FILE-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,607, 4dated December 3, 1895. Application med March 21,1893. siriano. 467,033. (No moda.)

To @ZZ whom it' may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD WILSON FARN- HAM, of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in File-Holders, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to simple devices for securing files of paper in convenient packages, which are very easily manipulated either for the purpose of securing or removing files therefrom and which can be made at a nominal cost when compared to file-holders of similar capacity now extensively in use, substantially as hereinafter fully described, and as illustrated in the drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of one form of my improved file-holder, showing the files secured therein. Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view of the same with the files removed therefrom. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cord-fastening device used in connection therewith. Fig. 4 is a perspectivevview 'of another form of my improved file -holder, showing the same filled with files. Fig. 5 is a similar perspective view of the same with the files removed therefrom, and Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are perspective views of details of construction used in connection therewith.

In the drawings, A represents a rectangular board or tray of a widthand length sufficient for the papers it is desired to file to be stacked thereon, and B represents a cover consisting of a board of practically the same dimensions as the tray. At one end of the tray I provide it with a hook C. This consists, preferably, of a single length of wire bent double and then having the bent end (opposite that formed by its extremities) shaped into a hook, so that the space between the back thereof and the hook proper will gradually decrease from the point fu to the bend y. The legs of this hook are preferably spread apart and bent rearward and have their extremities sharpened, so that they can be driven into the. edge of the tray, as shown in Fig. 6. At the opposite end of the tray is a V-shaped staple F, the legs of which are bent back and sharpened, so that when they are driven into the end edge of the tray, as shown in Figs. 5

and 7, and so that the exposed inverted-V part of said staple will rise above the upper surface of the tray about as shown. vArising centrally from about the center of the top of the cover is a headed stud D, which serves the purpose of a turning-post for the cord or string E, with which the tray and cover are bound together.

The operation of the holder above described is substantially as follows: After the files are placed on the tray and the cover placed over them one end of the cord is caught in the hook C and drawn upward (thus tightening the hold of said hook thereon) over the cover to stud D, around which it is given a half-turn. It is then passed laterally clear around the fileholder back to the stud again, around which it takes another half-turn, and then pursues a longitudinal course to the rear edge of the cover andv down to the staple F. The end of the cord is secured in this staple simply by drawing it through the same and up into the angle thereof.

It makes no difference how large a package of papers it is desired to file in a holder thus constructed. Practically the only limit is in the length of the cord. The stud D is not absolutely necessary, because it is obvious that the cord can be wound around the fileholder in the manner described without the aid of the stud. It is also apparent that while I prefer to use a cover such cover can be dispensed with. Its use, however, protects 'the papers, and for that reason it is desirable.

In Fig. -l I show a construction of a fileholder which is substantially the same as that above described and which is illustrated in the last five figures of the drawings. This has a tray d and a cover or top board b, but instead of having the devices for securing the cord on the end edges of the tray has them secured to its longitudinal side edges. I prefer to use two pairs of corresponding clamps c c, each pair being secured, preferably, to the longitudinal side edges' of the tray in transverse alignment with each other, These clamps consistl of a wire the` ends of each of which are p1 eferably pointed and which is bent in the form of a U-shaped staple, the extremities of the parallel portions IOO of which are bent at right angles to said parallel portions and to the horizontal connecting portions thereof. Each of these clamps is also provided with an upwardly-extending return loop z about the center of length of the horizontal connecting portions, which is very narrow, so that when the cord d, used in connection therewith, is slipped into said loop and drawn upward it is securely held therein. There is one of these cords d used for each pair of clamps. One end thereof is secured in one clamp c and then passed up and transversely over the papers in the holder to and through the loop of the opposite clamp, where its opposite end is similarly secured. The papers are prevented from slipping longitudinally out of the. front end of the holder by a guard-rail e, secured to the front edge of the tray a, and this guard also permits the placing of a cord or strip of paperback of it, so as to hold it against the papers in the fileholder to indicate the' contents of the latter, as shown in Figs. l and 2. This guard, how# ever, while desirable, is not absolutely necessary and may be dispensed with.

It is possible and in some cases even desirable to substitute the clamps cy for the hook C and staple F, or vice versa. In such a contingency one would be just as efficacious as the other.

I do not wish to be understood as claiming the idea of placing files of paper or other me# dium between two boards, as the tray A and cover B, and then by means of a strap or cord fastening the same into a secure parcel; but what I particularly aim to accomplish is the combination, with such tray and cover and cord, of means which enable me to temporarily secure the ends of the cord in such manner that said cord can be unfastened by merely pulling` downward on one or both ends of the same and then files added to or abstracted from between the tray and cover and the cord wrapped tightly around the file-holder of the same or increased or decreased dimensions) and its ends fastened by being merely slipped into said clamps.

What I claim as new isl. In a file-holder and binder, a tray upon which said files are stacked, cord clamping devices secured to said tray, and arising from the edges thereof, and a normally independent cover, in combination with a normally independent cord, which when i'n use is wound around said holder, and has one of its ends removably and temporarily secured in said clamping devices; said clamping devices and said cord 'serving as and furnishing a guide to retain said files in place, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a file-holder and binder, a tray upon which said files are stacked, cord clamping devices secured to the edges of said tray having impin ging parts between which a cord can be removably secured, and a normally independent cover, in combination with a normally independent cord, which when in use is wound around said holder, has one end removably and temporarily secured in said clamping devices and forms a guide and means for securing the files in place, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a file-holder and binder, a tray upon which said files are stacked, cord elampin g devices secured to the edges of the tray, having inner surfaces arising above said edges whereby they serve as guides, and provided with impinging parts, between which the cord can be removably secured, and a normally independent cover, in combination with a normally independent cord, which when in use is wound around said holder; has one end re movably and temporarily secured in said clamping devices, and constitutes a continuation of the guides formed by the clamping devices, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a file-holder and binder, a tray upon which said files are stacked, cord clamping devices secured to the edges of the tray which are provided with impinging parts between which the cord can be temporarily secured, and a normally independent cover, having a stud projecting upward from the top thereof, in combination with said normally independ-v ent cord, which when in use is wound around said holder, and has one end removably and temporarily secured in said clamping device, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a file-holder and binder, a tray upon which said files are stacked, cord clamping devices secured to said tray, a normally independent cover and a stud secured centrally to the upper surface of said cover, in combination with a normally independent cord which when in use is wound around said holder, and has one of its ends removably and tempera# rilyl secured in saidclamping devices; and serves as` a guide to keep said files in place, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

EDVARD VILSON FARNHAM.

Vitnesses :v

D. B. MoRIsoN, E. J. DYKINs.

IOO 

